Order of the Thistle - 必应 Sign in Order of the Thistle The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is an order of chivalry associated with Scotland. The current version of the Order was founded in 1687 by King James VII of Scotland (James II of England and Ireland) who asserted that he was reviving an earlier Order. The Order consists of the Sovereign and sixteen Knights and Ladies, as well as certain "extra" knights (members of the British Royal Family and foreign monarchs). The Sovereign alone grants membership of the Order; he or she is not advised by the Government, as occurs with mo ... (展开) st other Orders. The Order's primary emblem is the thistle, the national flower of Scotland. The motto is Nemo me impune lacessit (Latin for "No one provokes me with impunity"). The same motto appears on the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom for use in Scotland and some pound coins, and is also the motto of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, Scots Guards, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada and Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. The patron saint of the Order is St Andrew.

Most British orders of chivalry cover the whole United Kingdom, but the three most exalted ones each pertain to one constituent country only. The Order of the Thistle, which pertains to Scotland, is the second-most senior in precedence. Its equivalent in England, The Most Noble Order of the Garter, is the oldest documented order of chivalry in the United Kingdom, dating to the middle fourteenth century. In 1783 an Irish equivalent, The Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick, was founded, but has now fallen dormant. The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is an order of chivalry associated with Scotland. The current version of the Order was founded in 1687 by King ... Order of the Thistle电影简介和剧情介绍,Order of the Thistle影评、图片、预告片、影讯、论坛、在线购票 ... 我要写影评 Order of the Thistle的影评 · · · · · · (全部 0 条) ... The Order of the Thistle is the greatest order of chivalry in Scotland, recognising sixteen Knights with the highest honour in the country and recognises Scottish men ...

分类“Order of the Thistle ”中的媒体文件 以下13个文件属于本分类，共13个文件。 Aristide Michel Perrot - Collection historique des ordres de chevalerie civils et militaires ... commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Order_of_the_Thistle?... Order of the Thistle is a featured article; it (or a previous version of it) has been identified as one of the best articles produced by the Wikipedia community. Must See Scotland - Flowers of Scotland – where will we see your likes in glens? Must See Scotland Must See Scotland Flowers of Scotland – where will we see your likes in glens? From Scots bluebells to bog myrtle, bell heather to the iconic thistle, the flowers of Scotland thrive - enjoying the rainfall more than the visitors do. Looking for 'Flower of Scotland' song lyrics? Click the link. Nostalgic video too! Here’s my take on just some of the flowers of Scotland. This is just a small selection I’ve enjoyed – high on the mountains, down by the sea, along the lush country lanes that you can find even in Scotland.

I've tried where possible to relate these flowers pictures to a place, as it may help you decide which part of Scotland you want to visit. There's plenty here on that iconic Scottish plant, heather, before I look at some other typical Scottish flowers. Bluebells - but not Scots bluebells - near Trowan, west of Crieff, Perthshire Botanically speaking, we’re probably not as rich and spectacular as, say, the Alps, but there’s still good stuff to enjoy out there, with the Angus Glens (Glen Clova) and the Ben Lawers range in particular noted as especially species-rich. And I may return to this flowery topic as I haven’t even begun to look through these ancient scary boxes of 35mm transparencies labelled ‘flowers’! (Gosh, how I wish how I’d indexed them better…..) Scots bluebells Bluebells and Scots Bluebells - the differences Here are some more Scots bluebells. These exceptionally large and lush examples are - somewhat poignantly - growing on what was the main runway of the wartime aerodrome of RAF Dallachy, in Moray.

More on this Strike Wing and its memorial on a blog piece found by clicking the picture. You know the difference between a bluebell and a Scots bluebell – a famous Scottish blue flower, simply one of the best known of the flowers of Scotland? Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) usually grow in woodland in great swathes. ‘Scots bluebells’ are harebells (in English) - pictured here - and are really Campanula rotundifolia. (Stop me if I get too technical.) They’re common on heathland and verges. I can't really say if they are common in the middle of runways of abandoned wartime airfields, but that's where I photographed the ones in the picture here. They’re on the site header as well unless I went and changed it and didn't alter this sentence. Heather - A Scottish icon Let’s get to the really characteristic flowers of Scotland now. There are two main types of heather – Calluna or common heather and Erica (sometimes called ‘bell heather’). And there are two species of Erica, the bell heather (E. cinerea), mentioned already, and cross-leaved heath (E. tetralix).

Cross-leaved heath as all its flowers at the top of the stem. bell heather. - a famous member of the flowers of scotland (Pictured after the bluebells) This is bell heather, though I've been peering at the original for a while just to make sure it wasn't cross-leaved heath! Anyway, yes, I know, I know: there's a wee lizard there as well. It's on top of a marker post on the Ullapool Hill walk. It's the furthest north I've ever seen a common lizard in Scotland. Wait, this is supposed to be about flowers in Scotland, not reptiles. And, wait - I do believe the Ullapool Hill walk has made it on to the top ten walks in Scotland page. (Dang these distracting links to other pages.) Common heather, also called 'ling', used to be a useful plant to the Highlanders of old – they made rope out of the stems. It was used as a broom, as bedding, between the stone walls for insulation, as a source of dye for cloth - and was even made into ale.

The Picts (they say) had the original recipe but they inconveniently disappeared and took the recipe with them. Anyway, common heather is just that - widespread in all kinds of situations - it's a pretty tough customer, coping with the poor acid Highland soils. Booking.com The heritage of heather Heather's use as bedding (mentioned above) is a link between its domestic and its herbal or medicinal role. The old herbalists knew that 'they who lie down at night faint and weary' on a heather bed, 'rise in the morning active and lively' - because of its restorative properties. Herbalists also prescribed it - and still do - for its anti-rheumatic properties and its specific use in the treatment of urinary infections. Heather has another property with both a mythical and a modern link. It naturally gives rise to 'sports' or mutants. The origins of white heather were explained in folk-myth as the places where the tears of Malvina, daughter of the Celtic bard Ossian, fell after she had learned of the death of her lover in battle.

Today, many of the cultivars to be found in garden centres both in Scotland and beyond were developed from chance finds in the wild or from sports noticed on other cultivars already growing in gardens. Heather is still playing a role in the Highland economy, not just in its wild form sheltering a variety of wildlife. Heather honey is still produced from hives taken out to blossoming moors in summer. A post-war shortage of timbers spawned a short-lived industry which made floor tiles from compressed heather stems. Though commercially unsuccessful, the bonding techniques evolved into a heather-gem jewellery range. Heather flavours everything, it seems, from a Highland liqueur to a range of cosmetics. Heather in Glen Derry, Aberdeenshire, in full bloom. Note the purple hill in the middle distance and the higher bare tops of the Cairngorms beyond - where the exposure means that even heather won't grow. Natural Scotland as tourist bait is promoted heavily with all that 'last wilderness' stuff. Read here about some of the least spoilt habitats in Scotland. The Scottish Thistle What could be more Scottish than the thistle?

(Actually, quite a lot of iconic stuff but let's move on...) The traditional tale of how, of all the flowers of Scotland, the thistle came to be a Scottish symbol is, frankly, a bit far-fetched. Apparently, far back in the Scotch mists of time, a raiding party of Vikings landed at night to pillage a village. They went undetected until one of the barefoot Norsemen stood on a particularly sharp thistle. The resulting Viking bad language awoke the village who armed themselves and drove off the Norsemen. Yeah, right. scottish thistle and dark green fritillary King James VII founded the Most Ancient Order of the Thistle in 1687. Their motto was Nemo me immune lacessit, translated into Scots as ‘Wha daur meddle wi me? (Or, into English: no-one assails me with impunity, which, to be honest, I find positively wimpy by comparison.) The Order had a generally spiky-looking thistle as an emblem. And that’s the problem with thistles. Among the flowers of Scotland, no-one is quite sure which one is meant to be a Scottish thistle.

There are a lot of different types, including spear thistle, the pernicious creeping thistle, the (damp loving) marsh thistle and the melancholy thistle that you see in upland pasture and on the banks of streams (or burns, in Scots). And there’s also the Partick, Buckie and the Inverness Caley Thistle for those so inclined. (Rein in the Scottish jokes, will ya? -Ed.) In this photograph, matters have been made worse by the fact there is a fritillary butterfly sitting on the thistle. So we not only have a hard to identify thistle, but a not too easy butterfly as well. Thank you, helpful folk from the East Scotland Branch of Butterfly Conservation for identifying this Scottish butterfly as a dark green fritillary. Follow that link to find out more about their important conservation work in Scotland. My fritillary was photographed at Roseisle, near Burghead in Moray. Funny we started off with flowers and we've had reptiles and now butterflies. mountain avens Some common alpine flowers of Scotland Let’s go up high again to find some special flowers of Scotland, firstly with mountain avens (Dryas octopetala - pictured here).

If you see this plant, you’re on limestone. It won’t grow on the acid peaty soils that are so common in Scotland. You can find it by the roadside on a certain spot on Skye, and by the sea at Durness in the far north – in fact, anywhere that a thin band of limestone emerges in the north-west of Scotland. But mostly it’s high in the mountains. And, it is said that the cup formed by the petals follow the sun like a kind of tracking dish – to warm up the, uhmm, middle bit to attract pollinating insects. Aren’t the flowers of Scotland clever? The leaves, like miniature oak leaves, are another identifying feature. moss campion dwarf cornel Scattered across the wild uplands of Scotland, moss campion’s pink starry flowers (pictured here) usually grow out of a soft green cushion of moss-like foliage. These were photographed amongst the granites of the Cairngorms, but it’s pretty widespread and brightens up many an otherwise dull plateau (to be honest!). It’s a plant I especially associate with a long day’s hillwalk. Also pictured here is another northern speciality - dwarf cornel (Cornus suesica).

This one was also photographed in the Cairngorms. It's a blanket-bog specialist, preferring poor acid soil (the exact opposite of the lime-loving mountain avens above). Though far from exclusively Scottish, gorse, sometimes called whins in Scotland, brightens up the Lowland landscapes throughout the country. In this picture, the foreground thicket of this tough shrub is on the edge of woodland west of Elgin in Moray , looking east. On a hot day, gorse smells of coconut! Looking east over the gorse by Monaughty (Monachty) Wood near Elgin, Moray Here’s my favourite Scottish plant – Bog Myrtle. bog myrtle Bog myrtle, sometimes called sweet gale - well, it’s a nicer name - is my favourite (and favorite) Scottish plant. Not only do the leaves, when crushed, give off a scent that, to me, simply, says ‘Oh good, I must be somewhere special in the Highlands’, but legend has it that the scent also repels midges . Well, probably. This is the fully grown plant. As its name suggests, it likes wet areas and so is widespread in the Highlands.

It loses its leaves for winter, then little catkins appear in spring to give a reddish tinge to its native boggy habitat. Bog myrtle (or sweet gale) is getting a lot of attention at the moment from natural beauty product producers. I think I know which name they'll choose for branding or marketing purposes. Botanical Locations in the North-west Highlands The Angus Glens and (even more famously) Ben Lawers in Perthshire have already been mentioned. There are also good botanical sites on several parts of the north coast – with Scots primrose just one speciality. (This link takes you my picture of Scots primrose on the Natural Scotland page.) The limestone outcrops in the Assynt area (Inchnadamph), north of Ullapool, are also good. And where there are fine flowers, there is usually fine scenery too. Check out the beautiful scenery pictures page. Or follow this link if you want to know what flowers were used to dye tartan . Flower of Scotland - the song Maybe you are here not because of botanical interest but because you are looking for the song that has become Scotland’s unofficial national anthem? The words are below.

‘Flower of Scotland’ was written by the late Roy Williamson of the hugely successful folk duo ‘The Corries’. It has evolved a lot since it was first broadcast on the BBC in 1967/8 - in black and white with Ruthven Barracks - I’m pretty sure - as a backdrop. (I remember as a boy recording this same broadcast with a wee tape recorder held in front of the tv! See: I told you I'd get nostalgic.) As the years went on, it certainly evolved, not just as a concert piece by the Corries themselves, but in a range of other settings, many of them sporting occasions. Scotland’s national rugby and football teams adopted it as an anthem, likewise it was sung at at least two Commonwealth Games when the Scots won medals. In fact, it’s pretty much ubiquitous. Oh Flower of Scotland, And sent him homeward, Tae think again. All right, the words tend a little towards an anti-England sentiment - proud Edward’s army etc being sent home (after the Battle of Bannockburn) ‘to think again’.

At least with England’s national anthem (or the ‘official’ one, depending on your viewpoint) they don’t sing that extraordinary verse that goes: “Lord, grant that Marshal Wade / May by thy mighty aid / Victory bring. May he sedition hush and like a torrent rush, / Rebellious Scots to crush / God save the King.” And in actual fact, this verse was only popular in early versions of the song, which was published in 1745 in ‘The Gentleman’s Magazine’ and became a popular ditty around the theatres in London, England. 1745, of course, is the year of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s rebellion and attempt to secure the throne. Clearly, those ‘rebellious Scots’ were on everybody’s mind at the time (though only briefly). Back at ‘Flower of Scotland’, verse two refers to ‘land that is lost now’ - possibly a colonial reference, ie the native people replaced by new waves - while the final version with its ‘rise now and be the nation again’ is unashamedly patriotic in tone - though written at a time when a Scottish Parliament, let alone Independence, seemed a very distant prospect.

As for the tune, listen to Williamson’s original setting and you’ll see it’s carried along at a steady pace. It can be a bit of a dirge when sung too slowly. And there is one other little issue with it - that note on ‘think’ as in ‘tae think again’. It’s a flattened 7th (is it not?) and seems to be a bit of a problem for the bagpipe scale, though we old folkies are comfortable enough with it on the instruments we play. I now have the feeling I shouldn’t have mentioned this. Anyway, there are thousands of fans belting it out at, say, a rugby international at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, with any luck they’ll drown out the pipers. MORE TO EXPLORE The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle | British peerage | Britannica.com The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle British peerage Kings and Queens of Britain The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, the Scottish order of knighthood whose modern period dates from King James VII of Scotland (James II of England), who revived it in 1687, and Queen Anne , who revived it again in 1703.

As with many orders of chivalry , its origins lie much further back in time. Tradition has it that at the end of the 8th century Achaius, King of Scots, founded a chivalric order and introduced the veneration of St. Andrew into Scotland, but few scholars accept this. More probable is that the Order of the Thistle relates to an order founded by King David I of Scots in the 12th century, as that king responded (as he did in so much else) to the Flemish influence in his court (the thistle was claimed as a Flemish emblem at that time). Later, James III of Scots (reigned 1460–88) created an order of knighthood and used the thistle as a royal emblem, so there are at least three possible founders of the ancient order. When the modern founder, James II of England , was deposed in 1688, the modern version fell dormant, but it was revived once more by Queen Anne in 1703. The membership of the order established in 1687 comprised the Scottish sovereign and eight knights.

Queen Anne increased the number of knights to 12, and in 1827 the number was raised to 16, which is its current number. The only foreigner admitted has been King Olaf V of Norway. Conferment of the order entails induction into knighthood, if the candidate is not already a knight, and the right to use the title “Sir.” Holders add KT (Knight of the Order of the Thistle) after their name. In order of precedence among knights, Knights of the Thistle are ranked just below Knights of the Garter, these two orders being the oldest and most honoured in Britain . (Knights of the Thistle and of the Garter rank as Knights Grand Cross when compared with other orders and thus may be granted the use of supporters with their arms.) Similar Topics Order of the Thistle Order of the Thistle UK Portal Top Surnames history The Order of the Thistle The Order of the Thistle represents the highest honour in Scotland. It is second only in precedence in the UK to the Order of the Garter. The Order honours Scottish men and women who have held public office or who have contributed in a particular way to national life.

The date of the foundation of the Order is not known, although legend has it that it was founded in 809 when King Achaius made an alliance with the Emperor Charlemagne. It is possible that the Order may have been founded by James III (1488-1513), who was responsible for changes in Royal symbolism in Scotland, including the adoption of the thistle as the Royal plant badge. It is said that James V bestowed the insignia of the 'Order of the Burr or Thissil' on Francis I of France in 1535. Around the time of the Reformation, the Order was discontinued. Although some kind of Scottish Order of chivalry existed in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, or even much earlier, it was James II (James VII of Scotland) who established the Order with a statutory foundation under new rules in 1687 - to reward Scottish peers who supported the king's political and religious aims. One statute required that the robe should be 'powdered over with thistles of gold'; a robe from that period still survives, scattered with more than 250 applied thistle motifs.

The statutes stated that the Order was 'to continue to consist of the Sovereign and twelve Knights-Brethren in allusion to the Blessed Saviour and his Twelve Apostles'. After James II (and VII)'s abdication in 1688, the Order fell into disuse once more until it was revived by Queen Anne in 1703. The number of knights remained at 12. Despite the rebellions of 1715 and 1745, the Old and Young Pretenders (Prince James and Prince Charles 'Bonnie Prince Charlie') appointed Knights of the Thistle (and Garter) in their exiles. The early Hanoverian kings also made use of the Order to reward Scottish nobles who supported the Hanoverian and Protestant cause. Interest in the Order revived when George IV wore the Thistle during his visit to Scotland in 1822. A statute of 1827 established the complement of Knights Brethren at 16. In 1987 a statute enabled ladies to join the Order. Extra knights may be created by special statute. If there are vacancies in the Order, appointments are announced on St Andrew's Day (30 November).

The patron saint of the Order of the Thistle is St Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, who also appears on the Order's badge. The breast star of the Order consists of a silver saltire with a pointed ray between each of the arms of the cross. At the centre is a gold medallion contained in an enamelled representation of the thistle, surrounded by a green border bearing the Order's motto. The motto is 'Nemo me impune lacessit' (No one harms me with impunity). The Princess Royal was invested in the Order of the Thistle in June 2001. Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (No one harms me with impunity) Chapel: Thistle Chapel, St. Giles' Cathedral Ranks: Knight or Lady The Order of the Thistle | The Royal Family The Order of the Thistle Gàidhlig The Royal Household © Crown Copyright The Order of the Thistle is the greatest order of chivalry in Scotland, recognising sixteen Knights with the highest honour in the country and recognises Scottish men and women who have held public office or who have contributed in a particular way to national life.

The Order is second only in precedence in England to the Order of the Garter. The date of the foundation of the Order is not known, although legend has it that it was founded in 809 when King Achaius made an alliance with the Emperor Charlemagne. It is possible that the Order may have been founded by James III (1488-1513), who was responsible for changes in Royal symbolism in Scotland, including the adoption of the thistle as the Royal plant badge. James II (James VII of Scotland) established the Order with a statutory foundation under new rules in 1687 - to reward Scottish peers who supported the king's political and religious aims. The Queen is the Sovereign of the Order, and appointments made to the Order are entirely her personal gift, in recognition of men and women who have held public office or have contributed significantly to national life. Current Knights and Ladies of the Thistle include music teacher and ex-Director of St Mary's Music School in Edinburgh, Lady Marion Fraser, and previous Chief Scout of the United Kingdom, Sir Garth Morrison.

In addition to the 16 Knights and Ladies, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal, and The Duke of Cambridge – known in Scotland as The Earl of Strathearn – have been appointed as Royal Knights of the Thistle. Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (No one harms me with impunity) Chapel: Thistle Chapel, St. Giles' Cathedral Ranks: Knight or Lady Order of the Thistle Order of the Thistle 2007 Schools Wikipedia Selection . Related subjects: Military History and War Banners of Knights of the Thistle, hanging in St Giles Cathedral The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is an order of chivalry associated with Scotland . While its original date of foundation is unknown, James VII (also King of England as James II) instituted the modern Order in 1687. The Order consists of the Sovereign and sixteen Knights and Ladies, as well as certain "extra" knights (members of the British Royal Family and foreign monarchs). The Sovereign alone grants membership of the Order; he or she is not advised by the Government, as occurs with most other Orders.

The sixteen members are required to be Scottish-born, though not the "extra" knights and ladies. The Order's primary emblem is the thistle, the national flower of Scotland. The motto is Nemo me impune lacessit ( Latin for "No one provokes me with impunity"); the same motto also appears on the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom for use in Scotland and on some pound coins. The patron saint of the Order is St Andrew. Most British orders of chivalry cover the entire kingdom, but the three most exalted ones each pertain to one constituent country only. The Order of the Thistle, which pertains to Scotland, is the second-most senior in precedence. Its equivalent in England , The Most Noble Order of the Garter , is the oldest documented order of chivalry in the United Kingdom, dating to the middle fourteenth century. In 1783 an Irish equivalent, The Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick, was founded; since the independence of the greater part of Ireland the Order has fallen dormant (its last surviving knight died in 1974). History James VII ordained the modern Order The original date of the Order's foundation is unknown.

According to legend, Óengus mac Fergusa (Angus), King of the Picts, while engaged in battle at Athelstaneford with the Saxon King Aethelstan of East Anglia, saw in the heavens the cross of St Andrew. After he won the battle, Angus is said to have established the Order of the Thistle, dedicating it to the saint, in 787. The tale is not credible, not only because of the unlikeliness of the alleged miracle, but also because the two individuals purported to have fought each other did not even reign during the same century. Another story states that Angus founded the Order in 809 to commemorate an alliance with the Emperor Charlemagne , which is a little less implausible given the Scottish bodyguards employed by Charlemagne . There is, in addition, a tradition that it was instituted, or re-instituted, on the battlefield by Robert I at Bannockburn. Many credit James III, who adopted the thistle as the royal plant badge and issued coins depicting thistles, with founding the Order during the fifteenth century.

Others state that James V, who had been admitted to the Order of the Garter in England , the Order of St Michael in France and the Order of the Golden Fleece in the Holy Roman Empire , established the Order of the Thistle in 1540 because he was embarrassed that he had no honour to confer on foreign monarchs. He allegedly conferred membership of the "Order of the Burr or Thissil" on Francis I, King of France. Some Scottish order of chivalry definitely existed during the sixteenth century, but had lapsed by its conclusion. James VII issued letters patent "reviving and restoring the Order of the Thistle to its full glory, lustre and magnificency" in 1687. Eight knights, out of a maximum of twelve, were appointed, but the King was deposed in 1688. His successors, the joint monarchs William and Mary , did not make any further appointments to the Order, which consequently fell into desuetude. In 1703, however, Anne once again revived the Order of the Thistle, which survives to this day.

Composition The Kings of Scotland—later the Kings of Great Britain and of the United Kingdom —have served as Sovereigns of the Order. When James VII revived the Order, the statutes stated that the Order would "consist of the Sovereign and twelve Knights-Brethren in allusion to the Blessed Saviour and his Twelve Apostles." In 1827, George IV augmented the Order to sixteen members. Women (other than Queens regnant) were originally excluded from the Order; Elizabeth II , however, allowed the admission of Ladies of the Thistle in 1987. From time to time, individuals may be admitted to the Order by special statutes. Such members are known as "Extra Knights" and do not count towards the sixteen-member limit. Members of the British Royal Family are normally admitted through this procedure; the first to be so admitted was a younger son of George III, HRH The Prince William Henry (later William IV). Olav V, King of Norway, the first foreigner to be admitted to the Order, was also admitted by special statute in 1962. The Sovereign has historically had the power to choose Knights and Ladies of the Order.

From the eighteenth century onwards, the Sovereign made his or her choices upon the advice of the Government. George VI felt that the Orders of the Garter and the Thistle had been used only for political patronage, rather than to reward actual merit. Therefore, with the agreement of the Prime Minister ( Clement Attlee) and the Leader of the Opposition ( Winston Churchill ) in 1946, the Order of the Thistle returned to the personal gift of the Sovereign. Knights and Ladies of the Thistle may also be admitted to the Order of the Garter. Formerly, many, but not all, Knights elevated to the senior Order would resign from the Order of the Thistle. The first to resign from the Order of the Thistle was John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll in 1710; the last to take such an action was Thomas Dundas, 2nd Earl of Zetland in 1872. Knights and Ladies of the Thistle may also be deprived of their knighthoods.

The only individual to have suffered such a fate was John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar who lost both the knighthood and the earldom after participating in the Jacobite rising of 1715. The Order has five officers: the Dean, the Chancellor, the Usher, the King of Arms and the Secretary. The Dean is normally a cleric of the Church of Scotland. The Chancellor is normally one of the knights, though not necessarily the most senior. The Usher of the Order is the Gentleman Usher of the Green Rod (unlike his Garter equivalent, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, he does not have another function assisting the House of Lords). The King of Arms of the Order, responsible for heraldry , is the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Scottish Heraldry. The Lord Lyon often—but not invariably—also serves as the Secretary.

Vestments and accoutrements The insignia of a Knight of The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle For the Order's great occasions, such as its annual service each June or July, as well for coronations, the Knights and Ladies wear an elaborate costume: The mantle is a green robe worn over their suits or military uniforms. The mantle is lined with white taffeta; it is tied with green and gold tassels. On the left shoulder of the mantle, the star of the Order (see below) is depicted. The hat is made of black velvet and is plumed with white osprey feathers. The collar is made of gold and depicts thistles and sprigs of rue. It is worn over the mantle. The St Andrew, also called the badge-appendant, is worn suspended from the collar. It comprises a gold enamelled depiction of St Andrew, wearing a green gown and purple coat, holding a white saltire. Gold rays are shown emanating from St Andrew's head. Aside from these special occasions, however, much simpler insignia are used whenever a member of the Order attends an event at which decorations are worn.

The star of the Order consists of a silver St Andrew's saltire, with clusters of rays between the arms thereof. In the centre is depicted a green circle bearing the motto of the Order in gold majuscules; within the circle, there is depicted a thistle on a gold field. It is worn pinned to the left breast. (Since the Order of the Thistle is the second-most senior chivalric order in the UK, a member will wear its star above that of other orders to which he or she belongs, except that of the Order of the Garter; up to four orders' stars may be worn.) The broad riband is a dark green sash worn across the body, from the left shoulder to the right hip. At the right hip of the Riband, the badge of the Order is attached. On the obverse, the badge depicts St Andrew in the same form as the star. On the reverse, it depicts a thistle, on a green ground and surrounded by the Order's motto. However, on certain "collar days" designated by the Sovereign, members attending formal events may wear the Order's collar over their military uniform, formal wear, or other costume.

They will then substitute the broad riband of another order to which they belong (if any), since the Order of the Thistle is represented by the collar. Upon the death of a Knight or Lady, the insignia must be returned to the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood. The badge and star are returned personally to the Sovereign by the nearest relative of the deceased. Officers of the Order also wear green robes. The Gentleman Usher of the Green Rod also bears, as the title of his office suggests, a green rod. Lord Lyon wears a tabard depicting the Royal Arms. Chapel Swords, helms and crests of Knights of the Thistle above their stalls in the Thistle Chapel Stall plates of Knights of the Thistle When James VII revived the Order in 1687, he directed that the Abbey Church at the Palace of Holyroodhouse be converted to a Chapel for the Order of the Thistle, perhaps copying the idea from the Order of the Garter (whose chapel is located in Windsor Castle ). James VII, however, was deposed by 1688; the Chapel, meanwhile, had been destroyed during riots.

The Order did not have a Chapel until 1911, when one was added onto St Giles High Kirk in Edinburgh . Each year, the Sovereign resides at the Palace of Holyroodhouse for a week in June or July; during the visit, a service for the Order is held. Any new Knights or Ladies are installed at annual services. Each member of the Order, including the Sovereign, is allotted a stall in the choir of the Chapel, above which his or her heraldic devices are displayed. Perched on the pinnacle of a knight's stall is his helm, decorated with a mantling and topped by his crest. Under the laws of heraldry, women other than monarchs do not bear helms or crests; instead, the coronet appropriate to the Lady's rank is used (see coronet). Unlike other British Orders, the armorial banners of Knights and Ladies of the Thistle are not hung in the chapel, but instead in an adjacent part of St Giles High Kirk. The Thistle Chapel does, however, bear the arms of members living and deceased on stall plates. These pieces of brass are affixed to the back of the stall and display its occupant's name, arms, and date of admission into the Order.

Upon the death of a Knight, helm, mantling, crest (or coronet or crown) and sword are taken down. The stall plates, however, are not removed; rather, they remain permanently affixed somewhere about the stall, so that the stalls of the chapel are festooned with a colourful record of the Order's Knights (and now Ladies) since 1911. Precedence and privileges The Royal arms encircled by the circlet and collar of the Order. The badge of the Order is depicted suspended from the collar. Knights and Ladies of the Thistle may also use the circlet, collar and badge on their arms. Knights and Ladies of the Thistle are assigned positions in the order of precedence, ranking above all others of knightly rank, and above baronets. Wives, sons, daughters and daughters-in-law of Knights of the Thistle also feature on the order of precedence; relatives of Ladies of the Thistle, however, are not assigned any special precedence.

(Generally, individuals can derive precedence from their fathers or husbands, but not from their mothers or wives.) (See order of precedence in Scotland for the exact positions.) Knights of the Thistle prefix "Sir," and Ladies prefix "Lady," to their forenames. Wives of Knights may prefix "Lady" to their surnames, but no equivalent privilege exists for husbands of Ladies. Such forms are not used by peers and princes, except when the names of the former are written out in their fullest forms. Knights and Ladies use the post-nominal letters "KT" and "LT," respectively. When an individual is entitled to use multiple post-nominal letters, "KT" or "LT" appears before all others, except "Bt" or "Btss" ( Baronet or Baronetess), "VC" ( Victoria Cross ), "GC" ( George Cross) and "KG" or "LG" (Knight or Lady of the Garter). Knights and Ladies may encircle their arms with the circlet (a green circle bearing the Order's motto) and the collar of the Order; the former is shown either outside or on top of the latter. The badge is depicted suspended from the collar.

The Royal Arms depict the circlet, superimposed over the collar, of the Thistle only in Scotland; they show the Garter in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Knights and Ladies are also entitled to receive heraldic supporters. This high privilege is only shared by members of the Royal Family, peers, Knights and Ladies of the Garter, and Knights and Dames Grand Cross and Knights Grand Commanders of the junior orders.

Current members and officers The Right Honourable The Earl of Wemyss and March KT DL His Grace The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry KT VRD DL The Right Honourable The Earl of Elgin and Kincardine KT CD DL The Right Honourable The Lord Thomson of Monifieth KT PC DL The Right Honourable The Earl of Airlie KT GCVO PC The Right Honourable The Viscount of Arbuthnott KT CBE DSC The Right Honourable The Earl of Crawford and Balcarres KT GCVO PC The Right Honourable The Lord Macfarlane of Bearsden KT DL The Right Honourable The Lord Mackay of Clashfern KT PC The Right Honourable The Lord Wilson of Tillyorn KT GCMG The Right Honourable The Lord Sutherland of Houndwood KT The Right Honourable The Lord Steel of Aikwood KT KBE PC The Right Honourable The Lord Robertson of Port Ellen KT GCMG PC HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh KG KT OM GBE AC QSO PC (1952) HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay KG KT GCB OM AK QSO PC ADC (1977) Dean: The Very Reverend Gilleas

buig Iain MacMillan CVO Chancellor: His Grace The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry KT VRD Usher: Rear Admiral Christopher Hope Layman CB DSO LVO (Gentleman Usher of the Green Rod) King of Arms and Secretary: Robin Orr Blair LVO WS The Order of the Thistle.

Links The Order of the Thistle The Order of the Thistle consists of the sovereign and sixteen knights and ladies, as well as extra knights. The patron saint of the order is St. Andrew and its motto is Nemo me impune lacessit (No one provokes me with impunity) It is the second most senior order of chivalry in Britain. The foundation date of the Order lies obscured by the mists of time. Some accounts credit it as being founded on the battlefield of Bannockburn by the great Robert the Bruce. Others claim it was established by James V in 1540. James II issued letters patent "reviving and restoring the Order of the Thistle to its full glory, lustre and magnificency" in 1687. The Chapel of the Order was the Abbey Church at the Palace of Holyrood House , After the destruction of this chapel, for many years the Order possessed none, until one was added to St. Giles High Kirk, Edinburgh in 1911. The Order of the Thistle. Vestments of the Order The order's cloak is green lined with white taffeta, with green and gold tassels.

The star is worn on the left shoulder, the hat is black with white osprey feathers. The badge of the Order of the Thistle, the St. Andrew is hung from a gold collar, it bears a gold enamelled picture of St. Andrew, wearing a green gown and purple cloak and holding a white saltire. The star of the Order of the Thistle is silver, with St. Andrew's saltire and clusters of rays. In the centre is a green circle bearing the motto in gold, inside the circle is a thistle on a gold background. The star is worn pinned to the left side of the chest. A dark green sash is worn across the body from the left shoulder to the right hip. The badge of the order is attached to a ribbon on the right hip. On its adverse side St. Andrew is depicted, on the reverse, a thistle on a green ground surrounded with the motto.

Question: Who founded the Order of the Thistle in 1687?
Answer: James II of England